INEC reveals why seven million diasporans, other Nigerians missed registration
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed why about seven million Nigerians who started their pre-registration process could not complete their voter registration.
THECONSCIENCEng reports that INEC recently disclosed that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 completed the process at a physical centre.
The National Electoral Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, INEC, Festus Okoye, made the disclosure in a chat on Tuesday, explained that most of those who could not complete the registration are Nigerians living in Diaspora.
Okoye, therefore, absolved the commission of any wrongdoing, saying the majority of the affected registrants could not have been able to appear in person as they are based abroad.
He said INEC is ready to avail data relating to online registration to various groups or individuals accusing the commission of disenfranchising the said seven million registrants from voting in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“The failure of the applicants to complete their registration may be due to factors entirely outside of their control, especially given the well-documented challenges faced by many Nigerians at registration centres across the country.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP and the affected Nigerians shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in public interest.
“Some of the seven million started the online pre registration and abandoned same and proceeded to carry out physical registration.”
Okoye stated that the commission is carrying out adjudication and cleaning up the register, preparatory to the display for claims and objections.
